Two days ago, let’s call him John, came into the shop asking for advice.

John already owns a Canon AE-1 with a 50mm lens and a Nikon L35 point-and-shoot. He wanted to know if he should upgrade to a Leica or a Contax.

So I asked him:

“What do you actually want to shoot?”

He said street photography. Flash. Getting close to people. Being in the action.

My answer surprised him.

Do not buy another camera.

With a Canon AE-1 and a 50mm lens, plus a Nikon L35 with a wider lens and built-in flash, he already has almost everything he needs to make the photos he described.

Of course we have cameras we could sell him.

Leicas. Contax. All sorts of beautiful gear.

But if you know me, I see sales as problem-solving. If the right solution is not buying something, then that’s the advice we’ll give.

Buying a better camera will not make you a better photographer.

Shooting more photos will.

How do I know?

Because I’ve made the mistake myself.

Over the years I’ve owned some of the best film cameras you can find on Earth.

• Five Leicas
• Two Hasselblads
• Three Contax cameras

I’d love to tell you that those cameras won me an Oscar, an Emmy, a Golden Globe, or got me into Magnum Photos.

They didn’t.

In fact, a kid with a Canon AE-1 who goes out and shoots every single day will probably make better photographs than I will if all my cameras stay on the shelf.

And even when I do use them, another problem appears:

Analysis paralysis.

Should I bring the Leica M2, M3 or M5?

Should I shoot the Hasselblad today?

Maybe the Contax?

Which lens?

35mm? 50mm? f/1.1? f/2.8?

You can spend so much time thinking about photography that you never actually go and make photographs.

So here’s my advice.

Stop looking for the next camera.

Take the one you already own.

Learn its strengths.

Learn its weaknesses.

Push it to its limits.

Then go push them further.

Because the best camera isn’t the Leica.

It isn’t the Contax.

It isn’t the Hasselblad.

It’s the one that’s in your hands when something worth photographing happens.

And if the weather is terrible?

Open the FilmNeverDie app.

You can now review all your photos since 2024 right from your phone.

Look back at your work.

See how far you’ve come.

See where you’ve improved.

See where you still need work.

Because becoming a better photographer doesn’t happen when you buy another camera.

It happens when you make another photograph.